Friday, July 19, 2013

Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat set for slugfest.

BHOPAL: Madhya
Pradesh forest department is all set for a fresh slugfest over
translocation of lions from Gujarat after the former deciding to shoot a
letter to the Centre for expediting procedural formalities for shifting
of big cats.
Multiple study reports are being compiled by
State forest department to suppress review petition filed by their
Gujarat counterpart challenging the April 15 order which directed the
Gujarat to translocate lions to Palpur-Kuno wildlife sanctuary in
Sheoupur district of the state.

The Gujarat government raised a dozen issues to oppose the
translocation besides alleging that the earlier order had violated the
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 as shifting of wild animals mandates prior
permission of the chief wildlife warden of the state to which the
animal belongs.
On this point, MP forest officials claim that
they have already sent a letter to the Centre and would sent a fresh
reminder for the same to the Centre.
"Since it's an inter-state
matter, it's for the Centre to take the initiative. We are sending a
request to the Union government to do the needful," says Narendra Kumar, PCCF, MP.
Another objection from Gujarat over shifting of lions to Kuno is that
Kuno-Palpur is a habitat sandwiched between Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
(RNP) and Madhav National Park (MNP) and is frequented by tigers in a
natural dispersal. It should be developed as a "tiger area" instead of
"lion area". They also claimed that there would a high risk of
tiger-lion conflict in Kuno besides threats from poachers.
To
counter the claim, the state forest department has documented a study
supported by geographical mapping, stating that natural dispersal of
tigers is reported from areas outside Kuno. The Gujarat's review
petition says the cats are not "critically endangered" species and fear
of epidemic in Gir's lions is imaginary and unfounded.
In support
of its claim, Gujarat has quoted a report of IUCN ( world conservation
union) that the current population of Asiatic lions vulnerable though,
is "a large, healthy population and a recent population and habitat
viability analysis (PHVA) workshop in India (Walker 1994) predicted a
zero percent chance of extinction over next hundred years, based on
their population model"
Gujarat government also alleges that Madhya Pradesh has no clear roadmap for translocation and that there is a great risk of poaching of translocated big cats.
The state government had filed a "caveat" on the case within a week
after the April 15 order of Supreme Court. The MPPCCF says they have
strong ground to overcome the objections against shifting of lions.

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"If ever you feel like an animal among men, be a LION" -Criss Jami, American Musician and Poet. "Lion: The fiercest and most magnanimous of the four footed beasts" - Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language (1755)

Asiatic Lion Protection Society

Asiatic Lion Protection Society (ALPS) founded in year 2006, is an NGO working mainly for conservation of Asiatic Lion in Gir forest and in Indian Zoos. Main objectives: To compile max. information about Asiatic Lion plus Gir forest and spread it through out the globe by website, blogs, Wikipedia, yahoo groups etc To help protection & conservation of Asiatic Lion & Gir forest by taking up projects like - Building parapets on open wells. - To contact and request nationalize banks of Gir area to put a condition to built parapet on open wells while sanctioning loan to farmers - At the time of festivals, organize camps near temples like Kankai, Banej & Tulsi Shyam to educate tourist to protect wildlife. - To distribute information and awareness leaflets at check-post to visitors using jungle roads. - Make representation & persuade Govt. to make Gir 'A Plastic Free Zone. Similarly contact local civil bodies to make their areas A Plastic free zone. To inform authorities about illegal activities inside the jungle like wood-cutting, removal of forest produce, poaching, illegal grazing etc. To inform authorities about injured wild animals. Also educate locals of Gir forests as well as school/college students to conserve Gir forest, it's wildlife and to represent to Govt. in favor of trans-location of Asiatic Lion to some other good place in Gujarat. P S: We welcome your comments & posts and expect that our conversation will follow the general rules of respectful civil discourse. You’re fully responsible for everything that you submit here in your comments & posts.

Discover Gir forest with us...

If you wish to travel Gir forest... we will be happy to help, guide and accompany you to explore Gir forest for the best experience. Please contact us for the same.

Gir forest...Gir lies has a topography made up of succession of rugged ridges, isolated hills, plateaus and valleys. Besides, being the last abode of Asiatic lions, Gir forms a unique habitat for ratel, rusty spotted cat, pangolin, ruddy mongoose, civets, paradise flycatcher etc.The overwhelming presence of the omnipotent big cat diverts the attention of the common man from the remarkable bird population that the sanctuary has. However, the birds of Gir sanctuary did attract the great ornithologist, Dr. Salim Ali who believed that, had the Asiatic lions not been there, the area would have been one of the most fascinating bird sanctuaries of the country.People mostly link Gir with "Maldharis" who have survived through the ages by having symbiotic relationship with the lion. They are religious pastoral communities living in Gir. Their settlements are called "nesses".At present, Gir forests of Gujarat (India) is the only natural place where this race of lions i.e. Asiatic lion is found.